Albert J. Silverman

Field dependence and differences between visual and verbal learning tasks

50 female undergraduate students were administered 2 paired-associate learning tasks (verbal and visual) and assigned on the basis of their scores on the rod-and-frame test to extreme field-dependent and field-independent groups. No significant difference was found between the two groups on the visuo-perceptive paired-associate tests. Compared to the field-independent Ss, however, the field-dependent Ss showed significant impairment on the verbal task (U = 18, p < .01). These findings are discussed in terms of possible dominant (left) cerebral hemisphere involvement in field dependency.

Perceptual relationship to peripheral venous tone

IN AN experiment performed a few years ago [l], which involved periodic drawings of venous blood from an indwelling cournand needle, it was observed that it was more difficult to withdraw venous blood (from a superficial arm vein) in Field Dependent (FD) than Field Independent (FI) Ss. A variety of other investigations have suggested that these two groups differ in the degree to which they are able to analyze discrete elements of a percept [2]. FD Ss perceive globally, tend to make major errors in the Rod and Frame test, have difficulties in finding the hidden figure in the Embedded Figures test, and also perform poorly on a variety of other perceptual and sensory integrative tasks [3]. FI Ss, at the other end of the population distribution, tend to perceive analytically and have much less difficulty with these tasks. Indeed our previous investigations [4] have suggested that the poor perceptual organization of FD Ss may lead them to the necessity of remaining more chronically aroused in order to cope with the uncertainty of their environment. In experiments where stimuli are absent or unclear, FD Ss increase in arousal. Where stimuli are discrete, FD Ss decrease in arousal. (As our colleague Bertram Cohen has suggested this might be likened to the increased alerting and tension an auto driver experiences as he drives through a fog. When the fog lifts, permitting the perception of clear stimuli, he relaxes). The observation that venous blood samples were more difficult to collect from FD Ss suggested the possibility that their veins were more constricted because of the above noted tendency to be more centrally aroused; i.e. that the hypothalamus and other autonomic centers were in these Ss, chronically discharging impulses along sympathetic vasoconstrictive fibers leading to constriction of the veins. Thus, it was decided to measure venous pressure in isolated venous segments, and the prediction was made that during the initial rest periods (prior to any stimulus), venous pressures would be higher in FD than FI Ss. Our previous work [5] and that of others [6, 71 had suggested that when specific stimuli impinge, i.e. when “uncertainty” decreases, the psychophysiologic responses of FI Ss are greater than those of FD Ss. Thus it was also predicted that during periods of specific stimulation, the venous pressures of FI Ss would be higher than FD Ss; and that resting levels would be similarly affected, i.e. resting levels after stimulation would also show the above noted reversal, presumably because of the altered set, i.e. the decrease in uncertainty.

Personality, stress, and venous flow rates

Abstract A technique of directly measuring Venous Flow Rate (VFR) in a large superficial limb vein is described. With this technique, increases in VFR were noted in response to Epinephrine; and decreases in VFR, in response to the anticipation of, and the performance of an alerting mental arithmetic problem. High Ego Strength S s revealed higher rates of flow than low E.S. S s at rest and after Epinephrine. High Anxiety S s revealed more of an increase of rate of flow in response to Epinephrine and a less brisk recovery after arithmetic than low anxiety S s. During resting conditions Field Independent S s revealed gradual increase in VFR, while Field Dependent S s revealed decreases. These differences were intensified when F.I. and F.D. S s were equated for ego strength and anxiety scores. F.I. S s also revealed a more prolonged increase in rate of flow in response to Epinephrine than Field Dependent S s.

Eye Movements and Sex Differences in Field Articulation

Eye movements of 10 male and 10 female Ss were examined during the rod-and-frame and size-estimation tests. Males were significantly more field-independent than females on the rod-and-frame. No sex differences were observed on size-estimation, embedded-figures test, or in the number of vertical and horizontal eye movements recorded during the two tasks. Eye movements did not correlate with performance on either test. The latter finding questions the utilization of size-estimation to infer visual scanning.

Field Dependency, Brain Asymmetry and Psychophysiological Differences

Field dependent individuals differ psychologically from field independent subjects. They use more primitive defense mechanisms, and are more responsive to social forces around them than field independent subjects. Psychophysiological differences exist between these groups which will be reviewed. Obesity and alcoholism are also related to field dependency, as well as other psychosomatic disorders. Our series of experiments show that field dependent subjects are less left cerebrally dominant, and show most elements (in subclinical form) of a left cerebral lobe (Gerstmanns) syndrome. Implications for psychosomatic medicine are noted in the psychophysiological differences seen.

Vascular response differences in field dependency.

Field-dependent (FD) subjects (Ss) differ psychophysiologically from field-independent (FI) Ss who are more differentiated psychologically and more cerebrally lateralized. This paper reviews vascular differences in these two groups in a series of five experiments. First noted was that withdrawing blood from FD Ss was more difficult, suggesting superficial vein constriction or spasm. Additionally, FD Ss did not respond to insulin-induced hypoglycemia with the expected pulse rate and systolic blood pressure rise and diastolic decrease, while FI Ss did show these changes. In a second experiment, arm veins of FD Ss revealed higher resting pressures than FI Ss, until after stimulation. Both groups displayed similar higher pressures during nonspecific stimuli (white noise), while FI Ss responded more to specific stimuli (words, arithmetic). A third experiment investigating the rate of blood flow in a superficial arm vein demonstrated decreasing resting rates over time only in FD Ss: while overall, FI Ss revealed faster resting rates, and in sustained response to a dose of epinephrine. A fourth and fifth experiment exposing these groups to different doses of epinephrine or alcohol revealed poorer dose responses among FD Ss with diastolic blood pressure and pulse rates. These Ss appear to be more responsive to novelty than to differing dose levels of CNS active drugs or other specific stimuli.